Lest we Forget to Learn: Reflections on War and Peace in the Contemporary World

‘Sally Watson has written a deeply humane and courageous book that asks us to face the enduring imprint of war, while still daring to hold onto the possibility of peace. Drawing on lived experience, it reveals how trauma lingers within individuals and communities, shaping the conflicts we struggle to resolve. What resonates most is the connection between our inner wounds and the violence in the external world. Ultimately, it is a moving and hopeful invitation to reimagine peace as something we must live, nurture, and embody together.’– Simon Western, PhD, CEO Eco-Leadership Institute

‘Based on a valuable combination of personal histories and broader research, Sally Watson’s book invites the reader to reflect upon the brutality of modern warfare. It questions assumptions over how war is justified and presents evidence of the long-term impact of war crimes and their traumatic legacy. The book provides a vital antidote to those who seek to glamorize war or present its conduct in more abstract terms. This volume marries the reflections of those who suffered to analysis of how future conflicts might be averted. As such, it ought to be read by policymakers, pundits, scholars and students alike.’– Jon Tonge, Professor of Politics, University of Liverpool

One of the common features of contemporary wars and violent conflicts is the long-term impact of war trauma on both individuals and their communities. There is rarely a clean break from past conflicts, or a healthy reset in relationships despite peace processes. In many parts of the world there are communities who have been directly or indirectly exposed to violence for decades. The impact of violent conflict on human beings has an accumulative effect from one generation to another and this includes serving military, veterans, and civilians. This is a major inhibitor to sustainable peace.

The book uses a timeline of wars since 1945 to illustrate that the political vision of “never again” has become hollow rhetoric. Warfare has evolved from the global, conventional violence of two world wars to localized conflicts and brutal civil wars across the world. The human consequences of modern wars include civilian casualty rates, now a shocking 90%, and a gradual normalization of war crimes. The military technology of today’s world includes precision bombing, but the world’s leaders fail in their international responsibility to protect non-combatants.

Sally Watson’s career has been diverse and included military service, management consulting and two decades as an academic at Lancaster University. After reaching the dizzy heights of Head of Department, she decided to focus on conflict resolution and became a freelance consultant. This move helped her to integrate theory and practice, and subsequently develop facilitation skills and gravitate toward writing about peace. She previously published Warrior Talk (2021) and Sustainable Peace in Northern Ireland (2024) with Peter Lang.